Thoughts on Murder #2 - Get a Clue (Board)!

Thoughts on Murder is Matt Ferraz's column on Grandma Bertha Interviews

I had a Clue board when I was a kid. Who didn't? The game was called Detetive in Brazil, and the names of the characters were a little different, but all in all, the game was the same. As a crime author, I'm always looking for inspiration, and, to me, the Clue board is an amazing tool to develop my writing skills. I'd go as far as to say that Clue is much more interesting for a writer than it is for a reader. Why is that?

A murder has happened, and there are six suspects: Miss Scarlett, Mr Green, Professor Plum, Mrs Peacock, Mrs White and, of course, the infamous Colonel Mustard. The murder weapon could be a number of things, from a dagger to a pipe, and the body had to be found somewhere around a mansion. Each player had a pin that represented a character. They wandered the place trying to find the murderer, the weapon and the scene of the crime.

One of the most fascinating things about Clue is the fact that any player can be the murderer, even you. The game can be played for at least three players, but it's most fun when there are six participants, each representing one character.

The structure of the game isn't like any crime novel you find in a bookshop. Not only do you have to find out the killer's identity, but also the cause of death and the room in which the body lay. These are all things you know as soon as the crime is discovered in a novel or short story. Which such a strange premise, why is this game so popular? 

Playing Clue has much more to do with the process of outlining and writing a crime novel than

reading one. When you're writing a murder mystery, you first find figure all the details and solve the crime in your head. Then you sit down and put it on paper, adding twists and leads that will engage your reader. Outlining is like walking into a labyrinth leaving a thread behind you. Writing the novel is like following that thread all the way back. At some point, the thread can get broke, and it helps if you have the path in your mind. Clue is a great way of training your mind on that.

Some versions of the Clue come with a description of the suspects, which I never liked. In the classic game, you don't know much about these people and their relationship with Mr Boddy, the victim. Like an author who creates a character, you can give them personalities in your head (I know I never trusted Professor Plum). They are not going to be the same personalities your friends created, and that's great! It's part of the fun.

So, the next time you get writer's block, get the dust out of that Clue board and invite some friends for a game night. It becomes even more interesting if they're also mystery writers. You can all get some inspiration, all while having good laughs.

Cheers,

Matt Ferraz

PS: Grandma Bertha's next interview will be published by the end of the week